U.S. patent application number 14/221166 was filed with the patent office on 2014-09-25 for vibration energy harvester.
This patent application is currently assigned to Oscilla Power Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is Oscilla Power Inc.. Invention is credited to James H. Dudley, Jesse A. Nachlas.
Application Number | 20140284937 14/221166 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51568629 |
Filed Date | 2014-09-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140284937 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Dudley; James H. ; et
al. |
September 25, 2014 |
VIBRATION ENERGY HARVESTER
Abstract
The system is a drilling bearing device. The device includes an
outer body structure, and inner body structure, and a loading
structure. The inner body structure is disposed at least partially
within the outer body structure. The inner body structure moves
relative to the outer body structure. The loading structure is
disposed between the outer body structure and the inner body
structure. The loading structure facilitates adjustment of a
position of the inner body structure relative to the outer body
structure relative to the outer body structure resulting from
mechanical wear in the device. The loading structure substantially
prevents displacement of the inner body structure relative to the
outer body structure in response to a reciprocating displacement to
maintain a substantially constant relative location.
Inventors: |
Dudley; James H.; (Spring,
TX) ; Nachlas; Jesse A.; (Salt Lake City,
UT) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Oscilla Power Inc. |
Salt Lake City |
UT |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Oscilla Power Inc.
Salt Lake City
UT
|
Family ID: |
51568629 |
Appl. No.: |
14/221166 |
Filed: |
March 20, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61803787 |
Mar 20, 2013 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
290/1R ;
384/10 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H02N 2/186 20130101;
E21B 41/0085 20130101; E21B 4/003 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
290/1.R ;
384/10 |
International
Class: |
H02K 7/18 20060101
H02K007/18; E21B 4/00 20060101 E21B004/00 |
Goverment Interests
STATEMENT OF FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH
[0002] This invention was made with Government support under
IIP-1127503 awarded by the National Science Foundation. The
Government has certain rights to this invention.
Claims
1. A drilling bearing device comprising: an outer body structure;
an inner body structure disposed at least partially within the
outer body structure, the inner body structure configured to move
relative to the outer body structure; and a loading structure
disposed between the outer body structure and the inner body
structure, the loading structure to facilitate adjustment of a
position of the inner body structure relative to the outer body
structure in response to a unidirectional displacement of the inner
body structure relative to the outer body structure resulting from
mechanical wear in the device, wherein the loading structure is
configured to substantially prevent displacement of the inner body
structure relative to the outer body structure in response to a
reciprocating displacement to maintain a substantially constant
relative location.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein the unidirectional displacement
is due to at least one of a list of causes, the list comprising
bearing wear, thermal expansion, and component erosion.
3. The device of claim 1, wherein adjustment of the position of the
inner body structure relative to the outer body structure in
response to the unidirectional displacement results in the
reciprocating displacement having substantially constant load
cycles.
4. The device of claim 1, wherein the loading structure comprises a
hydraulic chamber with hydraulic fluid.
5. The device of claim 4, wherein the hydraulic chamber comprises a
control point comprising a check valve configured to allow fluid
flow in response to the unidirectional displacement and restrict
fluid flow in response to reciprocating displacement.
6. The device of claim 4, wherein the hydraulic chamber comprises a
control point comprising a lee jet configured to allow fluid flow
in response to the unidirectional displacement and restrict fluid
flow in response to reciprocating displacement.
7. The device of claim 4, wherein the hydraulic chamber comprises a
control point comprising a hole configured to allow fluid flow in
response to the unidirectional displacement and restrict fluid flow
in response to reciprocating displacement.
8. The device of claim 1, wherein the loading structure comprises a
spring element to apply a force to at least one of the inner body
structure and the outer body structure to facilitate unidirectional
motion of the inner body structure relative to the outer body
structure.
9. The device of claim 1, further comprising an offset-sensitive
device, wherein the relative motion of the inner body structure and
the outer body structure by the loading structure substantially
reduces a negative effect of the unidirectional displacement on the
offset-sensitive device.
10. An energy harvester system comprising: a body portion having a
unidirectional displacement and a reciprocating displacement; a
loading structure coupled to the body portion, the loading
structure configured to facilitate relative movement within the
body portion to compensate for the unidirectional displacement, the
loading structure further configured to maintain the reciprocating
displacement substantially constant through the body portion; and a
magnetostrictive element configured to undergo a change in
mechanical stress in response to the reciprocating displacement,
wherein the change in mechanical stress in the magnetostrictive
element generates an electric current in a conductor by
induction.
11. The system of claim 10, wherein the loading structure comprises
a hydraulic chamber with hydraulic fluid.
12. The system of claim 11, wherein the hydraulic chamber comprises
a check valve control point configured to allow the hydraulic fluid
to pass in response to the unidirectional displacement and restrict
hydraulic fluid flow in response to the reciprocating
displacement.
13. The system of claim 11, wherein the hydraulic chamber comprises
a lee jet control point configured to allow the hydraulic fluid to
pass in response to the unidirectional displacement and restrict
hydraulic fluid flow in response to the reciprocating
displacement.
14. The system of claim 10, wherein the loading structure comprises
a spring element to apply a force within the loading structure,
wherein the spring element facilitates movement within the body
structure to compensate for the unidirectional displacement.
15. The system of claim 10, wherein the unidirectional displacement
is due to at least one of a list of causes, the list comprising
bearing wear, thermal expansion, and part erosion.
16. The system of claim 10, wherein adjustment of the position of
the inner body structure relative to the outer body structure in
response to the unidirectional displacement results in the
reciprocating displacement having substantially constant load
cycles.
17. A method for harvesting energy, the method comprising:
generating a unidirectional displacement; generating a
reciprocating displacement, wherein a frequency of the
reciprocating displacement is greater than a frequency of the
unidirectional displacement; communicating the unidirectional and
reciprocating displacements to a body portion, wherein the
unidirectional displacement is counteracted and the reciprocating
displacement is communicated to a magnetostrictive element, wherein
the reciprocating displacement causes a change in mechanical stress
in the magnetostrictive element, wherein the change in mechanical
stress causes a change in a magnetic field at least partially
surrounding the magnetostrictive element; and inducing a current in
a conductor in response to the change in the magnetic field at
least partially surrounding the magnetostrictive element.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein the reciprocating displacement
communicated to the magnetostrictive element comprises
substantially constant load cycles.
19. The method of claim 17, wherein counteracting the
unidirectional displacement comprises moving hydraulic fluid
through a control point in a hydraulic chamber.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein the hydraulic chamber comprises
a spring element to apply force to the hydraulic chamber to move
the hydraulic fluid in response to the unidirectional displacement.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 61/803,787, filed on Mar. 20, 2013, which is
incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0003] As technology progresses, so does the need for electrical
power. Some approaches to providing electrical power include
advances in battery technology and power generation. Some
conventional systems are mobile or are operated at remote sites
where they cannot readily be installed and used in the vicinity of
an easily accessible power source. However, many of these remote
and isolated systems would benefit from or require power.
SUMMARY
[0004] Embodiments of a device are described. In one embodiment,
the system is a drilling bearing device. The device includes an
outer body structure, and inner body structure, and a loading
structure. The inner body structure is disposed at least partially
within the outer body structure. The inner body structure moves
relative to the outer body structure. The loading structure is
disposed between the outer body structure and the inner body
structure. The loading structure facilitates adjustment of a
position of the inner body structure relative to the outer body
structure relative to the outer body structure resulting from
mechanical wear in the device. The loading structure substantially
prevents displacement of the inner body structure relative to the
outer body structure in response to a reciprocating displacement to
maintain a substantially constant relative location. Other
embodiments of the device are also described.
[0005] Embodiments of a system are also described. In one
embodiment, the apparatus is an energy harvester system. The system
includes a body portion, a loading structure, and a
magnetostrictive element. The body portion has a unidirectional
displacement and a reciprocating displacement. The loading
structure is coupled to the body portion. The loading structure
facilitates relative movement within the body portion to compensate
for the unidirectional displacement. The loading structure further
maintains the reciprocating displacement substantially constant
through the body portion. The magnetostrictive element undergoes a
change in mechanical stress in response to the reciprocating
displacement. The change in mechanical stress in the
magnetostrictive element generates an electric current in a
conductor by induction. Other embodiments of the apparatus are also
described.
[0006] Embodiments of a method are also described. In one
embodiment, the method includes generating a unidirectional
displacement. The method also includes generating a reciprocating
displacement. A frequency of the reciprocating displacement is
greater than a frequency of the unidirectional displacement. The
method also includes communicating the unidirectional and
reciprocating displacements to a body portion. The unidirectional
displacement is counteracted and the reciprocating displacement is
communicated to a magnetostrictive element. The reciprocating
displacement causes a change in mechanical stress in the
magnetostrictive element. The change in mechanical stress causes a
change in a magnetic field at least partially surrounding the
magnetostrictive element. The method also includes inducing a
current in a conductor in response to the change in magnetic field
at least partially surrounding the magnetostrictive element. Other
embodiments of the method are also described.
[0007] Other aspects and advantages of embodiments of the present
invention will become apparent from the following detailed
description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,
illustrated by way of example of the principles of the
invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 depicts a schematic diagram of a cross-sectional view
of one embodiment of a system for vibration energy harvesting.
[0009] FIG. 2 depicts a flow chart diagram of one embodiment of a
method.
[0010] Throughout the description, similar reference numbers may be
used to identify similar elements.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0011] It will be readily understood that the components of the
embodiments as generally described herein and illustrated in the
appended figures could be arranged and designed in a wide variety
of different configurations. Thus, the following more detailed
description of various embodiments, as represented in the figures,
is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure, but
is merely representative of various embodiments. While the various
aspects of the embodiments are presented in drawings, the drawings
are not necessarily drawn to scale unless specifically
indicated.
[0012] The present invention may be embodied in other specific
forms without departing from its spirit or essential
characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in
all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of
the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims
rather than by this detailed description. All changes which come
within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be
embraced within their scope.
[0013] Reference throughout this specification to features,
advantages, or similar language does not imply that all of the
features and advantages that may be realized with the present
invention should be or are in any single embodiment of the
invention. Rather, language referring to the features and
advantages is understood to mean that a specific feature,
advantage, or characteristic described in connection with an
embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present
invention. Thus, discussions of the features and advantages, and
similar language, throughout this specification may, but do not
necessarily, refer to the same embodiment.
[0014] Furthermore, the described features, advantages, and
characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable
manner in one or more embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art
will recognize, in light of the description herein, that the
invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific
features or advantages of a particular embodiment. In other
instances, additional features and advantages may be recognized in
certain embodiments that may not be present in all embodiments of
the invention.
[0015] Reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment,"
"an embodiment," or similar language means that a particular
feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with
the indicated embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of
the present invention. Thus, the phrases "in one embodiment," "in
an embodiment," and similar language throughout this specification
may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment.
[0016] While many embodiments are described herein, at least some
of the described embodiments relate to vibration energy harvesting.
In general, the invention employs magnetostrictive elements to
derive power from mechanical displacement.
[0017] FIG. 1 depicts a schematic diagram of a cross-sectional view
of one embodiment of a system 100 for vibration energy harvesting.
The illustrated embodiment includes a housing 102, a body portion
103, a control point 108, jam nuts 110, a compensation piston 112,
a spring element 114, electronics 116, an offset-sensitive device
118, and mud motor 120. Although the system 100 is shown and
described with certain components and functionality, other
embodiments of the system 100 may include fewer or more components
to implement less or more functionality.
[0018] Generally, the system 100 is employed in a vibration or
displacement intensive application. In many applications, it would
be advantageous in one or more aspects to maintain a component in a
specific location relative to another component through wear and
displacement forces. This would provide benefits in many high-wear
environments. For example, it may be used to measure dynamic
displacement using an LVDT transducer while maintaining full range
of motion. It may be used to position a transducer such as a
magnetic proximity switch or an antenna or listening device.
Additional applications may benefit from the invention described
herein. One such application is down-hole drilling. In a drilling
application, one embodiment of the invention is placed in the
drilling line as a sealed bearing portion of the line. Vibration
from drilling and operation of the mud motor can produce
significant amounts of wear on the bearings in the drilling line.
For example, joints, such as U-joints in the driveline, bearings in
and surrounding the mud motor, generator (not shown), and other
components can see significant wear and cause movement within a
drilling assembly. Specific example of wear may occur in the thrust
bearings of the mud motor and locations in the drilling assembly.
Types of bearings that may be susceptible to wear may include
sealed roller bearings, mud-lubricated marine bearings, and
mud-lubricated PDC bearings. This can further increase wear and
degrade control, efficiency, and quality of the drilling and
drilling components. This wear can pose a multitude of problems
during a drilling operation. For example, separation in the
components adversely affects power generation through vibration
harvesting. The described embodiments, adapt to the gradual
separation caused by bearing and component wear through use of a
hydraulic/spring system which creates movement in certain
components to avoid separation. This allows the system to continue
to generate power by harvesting substantially constant
reciprocating displacement without disruption due to varying
separation in the components.
[0019] In the illustrate embodiment of FIG. 1, the housing 102
encloses the body portion 103. In some embodiments, the housing 102
is a non-rotating component. In some embodiments, other components
may be rotating or non-rotating. The body portion 103 includes an
outer body structure 104 and an inner body structure 106. In the
illustrated embodiment, the spring element 114 is placed between
the outer and inner body structures 104 and 106 within the
hydraulic chamber 107. In some embodiments, the spring element 114
is located in other portions of the system 100. The spring element
114 applies a force to cause a displacement of the outer body
structure 104 relative to the inner body structure 106. In some
embodiments, the spring element 114 moves the outer body structure
104. In another embodiment, the spring element 114 moves the inner
body structure 106. In other embodiments, the spring element 114
may move either or both of the inner body structure 106 and the
outer body structure 104.
[0020] The hydraulic chamber 107 functions as a damper or dashpot
for the system 100 in controlling relative motion of the
components. The hydraulic chamber 107 includes a control point 108.
In one embodiment, the control point 108 is a check valve. In
another embodiment, the control point 108 is a lee jet or other
small aperture. In other embodiments, the control point 108 is
another fluid flow control structure. The control point 108 allows
hydraulic fluid to flow from the hydraulic chamber 107. In one
embodiment, the control point 108 allows fluid to flow in response
to a relatively low frequency force input at the body portion 103.
For example, a low frequency force may be less than 0.1 Hz. In some
embodiments, the control point 108 allows fluid to flow from the
hydraulic chamber 107 and substantially prevents the fluid from
returning to the hydraulic chamber 107. In this manner, the control
point 108 allows the body portion 103 to adjust to movement in the
system 100 due to wear in the components. Conversely, the control
point 108 restricts the flow of hydraulic fluid in response to a
relatively high frequency force input at the body portion 103. For
example, a high frequency force input may be greater than 0.1 Hz.
In another embodiment, the low frequency force is less than 0.05 Hz
and the high frequency force is greater than 0.5 Hz. In another
embodiment, the low frequency force is much less than 0.05 Hz. For
example, the low frequency force may be less than approximately
0.0002 Hz.
[0021] The control point 108 allows the body portion 103 to adjust
to, absorb, or counteract low frequency displacements and pass
along or communicate high frequency displacements. In another
embodiment, the control point 108 allows hydraulic fluid to return
to the hydraulic chamber 107 at the same or different rate at which
it was allowed to exit the hydraulic chamber 107. In some
embodiments, the control point 108 may restrict or allow flow in
either direction in response to detection of a trigger condition.
For example, the control point 108 may be activated in response to
detection of a temperature, pressure, or vibration threshold. Fewer
or more control points 108 may be incorporated into the system
100.
[0022] The control point 108 passes hydraulic fluid to the
compensation piston 112. The compensation piston 112 is positioned
at the opening to the control point 108. The compensation piston
112 receives the hydraulic fluid expelled through the control point
108 from the hydraulic chamber 107. In one embodiment, the
compensation piston 112 facilitates compensation for thermal
expansion/contraction, hydraulic pressure regulation, wear
compensation, and/or loading control for the offset-sensitive
device 118. In some embodiments, the offset-sensitive device 118
includes a displacement transducer, a magnetostrictive element, or
other device sensitive to movement in the system 100 due to wear of
a bearing or other component.
[0023] In some embodiments, the compensation piston 112 includes a
valve to relieve excessive pressure in the hydraulic fluid. This
allows for management of forces exerted on components of the system
100. In some embodiments, the compensation piston 112 applies a
compressive or tensile preload to accommodate temperature changes,
pressure changes, and/or wear in components of the drilling
assembly.
[0024] In the illustrate embodiment, the jam nuts 110 are in
contact with the outer body structure 104. In one embodiment, the
jam nuts 110 are placed to prevent movement of the components
within the system 100. In some embodiments, the jam nuts 110 may be
omitted or placed at other locations within the system 100 or at
other locations in the drilling assembly.
[0025] In the illustrated embodiment, the electronics 116 are
located next to the inner body structure 106. In some embodiments,
the electronics 116 include components for power regulation, energy
storage, monitoring and control elements to condition the power, a
microcontroller, memory, communication, recording, and/or sensors.
Another embodiment of the electronics 116 may include a conductive
coil or other conductor to generate current in response to the
change in magnetic field of the magnetostrictive element in the
offset-sensitive device 118. In some embodiments, the conductive
coil is wrapped substantially around the magnetostrictive element.
In some embodiments, the electronics 116 include multiple
components. In other embodiments, a single component is included in
the electronics 116.
[0026] FIG. 2 depicts a flow chart diagram of one embodiment of a
method 200. Although the method 200 is described in conjunction
with the system 100 of FIG. 1, embodiments of the method 200 may be
implemented with other types of systems.
[0027] At block 202, a unidirectional displacement is generated. At
block 204, a reciprocating displacement is generated. The frequency
of the reciprocating displacement is greater than a frequency of
the unidirectional displacement. At block 206, the unidirectional
and reciprocating displacements are communicated to the body
portion 103. The unidirectional displacement is counteracted and
the reciprocating displacement is communicated to the
magnetostrictive element 118. The reciprocating displacement causes
a change in mechanical stress in the magnetostrictive element 118.
The change in mechanical stress causes a change in the magnetic
field at least partially surrounding the magnetostrictive element
118. At block 208, a current in induced in a conductor in response
to the change in the magnetic field at least partially surrounding
the magnetostrictive element 118.
[0028] In the above description, specific details of various
embodiments are provided. However, some embodiments may be
practiced with less than all of these specific details. In other
instances, certain methods, procedures, components, structures,
and/or functions are described in no more detail than to enable the
various embodiments of the invention, for the sake of brevity and
clarity.
[0029] Although the operations of the method(s) herein are shown
and described in a particular order, the order of the operations of
each method may be altered so that certain operations may be
performed in an inverse order or so that certain operations may be
performed, at least in part, concurrently with other operations. In
another embodiment, instructions or sub-operations of distinct
operations may be implemented in an intermittent and/or alternating
manner.
[0030] Although specific embodiments of the invention have been
described and illustrated, the invention is not to be limited to
the specific forms or arrangements of parts so described and
illustrated. The scope of the invention is to be defined by the
claims appended hereto and their equivalents.
[0031] Although the operations of the method(s) herein are shown
and described in a particular order, the order of the operations of
each method may be altered so that certain operations may be
performed in an inverse order or so that certain operations may be
performed, at least in part, concurrently with other operations. In
another embodiment, instructions or sub-operations of distinct
operations may be implemented in an intermittent and/or alternating
manner.
* * * * *